Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41231547›Full record

ArticleJournal of applied microbiology2025

Isolation of viable Mycobacterium bovis from faeces of naturally infected free-ranging rural domestic cattle (Bos taurus).

Rachiel Gumbo, Tristen Lourens, Deborah M Cooke, Tanya J Kerr, Robin M Warren, Michele A Miller, Giovanni Ghielmetti, Wynand J Goosen

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of applied microbiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Rachiel GumboSouth African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research; Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University,Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa.
Tristen LourensDepartment of Microbiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0001-8005-062X
Deborah M CookeSouth African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research; Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University,Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa.
Tanya J KerrSouth African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research; Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University,Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0002-3890-4959
Robin M WarrenSouth African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research; Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University,Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa.
Michele A MillerSouth African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research; Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University,Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa.
Giovanni GhielmettiSouth African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research; Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University,Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa.
Wynand J GoosenSouth African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research; Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University,Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa.

Funding

GenPath Africa 101103171GenPath Africa 86949Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust 222941/Z/21/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsThis study investigated the presence of viable Mycobacterium bovis in faecal samples collected from 79 free-ranging domestic cattle in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. METHODS AND

resultsFaecal samples were processed under biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) conditions and analysed using mycobacterial culture followed by molecular speciation, as well as being screened using the GeneXpert® MTB/RIF Ultra (GXU®) assay. Viable M. bovis was isolated from two animals, confirmed through region-of-difference PCR and spoligotyping. These findings provide rare field-based confirmation of natural faecal shedding of viable M. bovis in cattle. The GXU® detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) DNA in eight samples (10.1%), including those that were culture positive, supporting its utility as a rapid screening tool. However, its inability to confirm bacterial viability or differentiate MTBC members remains a limitation. Additionally, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs), including M. avium and M. litorale, were isolated, highlighting environmental exposure and diagnostic challenges in endemic regions.

conclusionsThis study reinforces the need to consider faecal shedding and environmental reservoirs in bTB transmission dynamics, particularly in communal grazing systems. It also emphasizes the importance of integrating culture-based and molecular diagnostics for accurate detection and differentiation of mycobacterial species. These findings have important implications for One Health approaches to bTB surveillance, control, and zoonotic risk mitigation.

Indexed as

FecesMycobacterium bovisTuberculosis, BovineAnimalsCattleDNA, BacterialPolymerase Chain ReactionSouth AfricaDNA, Bacterialbovine tuberculosisfaecal sheddingGeneXpert® MTB/RIF Ultramycobacterial cultureMycobacterium bovisnontuberculous mycobacteria

Identifiers

PMID41231547
PMCPMC12661519

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.